First Test, New Keldan Luna CRI lights

Here is a preview of some footage shot last week with the new version of the Keldan Luna CRI lights, 4500 lumen each! Outstanding color, see notes on vimeo page for how little the film was messed with and keep in mind we dive very particulate, cold, dark water here in December! can't wait to take these out at night in 100 ft viz somewhere. Camera: Canon HF G10, L&M Bluefin housing

First thing I noticed upon hitting the bottom and firing up the lights: these lights are extremely bright. I knew intuitively that 4500 lumen per light was a lot of light, but I have to confess I harbored a little doubt as to whether it would be "enough" given that there are lights out there in this price range which are rated up to 6000 lumen. My doubts were unfounded. I immediately cranked both lights up to full blast and was amazed a the huge area of the surface of the wreck which was illuminated. I was so taken by the view that I left the lights on high and totally blew out the first few minutes of footage. I just wasn't used to the possibility of having too much light. The pattern of light is very nicely diffused, with no hot spot visible, even in the footage I over-lit. Its just a wall of even light with no discernible border. The edges fall off very gradually and evenly. At any rate the edge of the light pattern isn't even visible through the camera at the distances from which we were filming. The next thing I noticed were the colors. The A.C.E. wreck is covered with a a rainbow of different shades of corynactis anemones; under the light of the Keldans, I was able to clearly see (and film) subtle differences between the purple, the red, the red-orange, and the gold clusters. I also noticed the difference between the colors on the stalks of the metridium anemones, as some are snow white and others a warm yellow-tan, almost leathery color. The resulting video easily has the best color palette of any we have shot. Whether this is due to finally having enough light for the camera to use, or the unique high CRI quality of the lights is an open question. I hope to get my hands on a pair of Light & Motion Sola 4000's soon and do a side by side test, but so far my seat-of-the pants opinion is that the light the Keldans put out gave a nice boost to the warm end of the color spectrum, and that this boost is noticeable in the image. The second to last shot of the video (2:58) is of a rolled up net floating with encrusting corynactis. My brother (pfulks) shot that. This shot in particular looks exactly as it did underwater, and shows off some of the different variations of color. I didn't do anything to the shot in post. In fact I only adjusted color on three shots...and the more I look at them, the more I think I should have left them alone. Battery life was good considering how long I ran the lights on full power; burn times appear to be as advertised but we have only burned them down once. They lasted on various power levels with power to spare through two 40+ minute dives. I only have two minor complaints thus far: First, there is a useful l.e.d. indicator on each light which shows remaining battery power-but no way to visually check which output level the lights are set to. This means you have to "count the clicks" as you turn the control ring, which takes some concentration if your hands are cold and you are wearing thick gloves. It would be nice to have l.e.d.s to help level match the lights. Second, the polycarbonate globes that help give the lights their beautiful fall-off characteristics are delicate and will scratch if treated carelessly. Small scratches do not appear to affect light output though. All in all I am astounded by the quantity and quality of the light put out by the Keldans. My brother and I can't wait to go dive them again.

Interests:filming/editing/exotic travel. l write reviews of editing software, books, tutorials and Mac based NLE related products for the www.kenstone.net and www.lafcpug.org sites as well as articles for Asian Diver Magazine and wetpixel. I am one of the founding members of the San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

Posted 04 January 2012 - 01:45 PM

I also enjoyed the lights and thought they did a fine job. While I had no problem determining the power setting visually as did you I see that as a minor issue. Tim at Nocturnal Lights did tell me awhile ago that they were going to come out with some kind of protective somethingorother for the globes when transporting when I wrote the review of them. You reminded me and I sent him and email asking about them. Will let you know when I hear from him.
Steve

www.kenstone.net
www.lafcpug.org

Steve Douglas
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net

I have worked as an unpaid reviewer for the editing websites since 2002. Most all hardware and software is sent to me free of charge, however, in no way am I obligated to provide either positive or negative evaluations. Any suggestions I make regarding products are a result of my own, completely, personal opinions and experiences with said products.